The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (RFAS) February 1, 2010 announced it had withdrawn an action against the Ministry of Transport of Russia (RMT), in connection with its voluntary elimination of violations of the antimonopoly legislation, the FAS press service said.

The Russian antitrust agency brought an action against the Ministry of Transport of Russia for violating Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

The Transport Ministry, the FAS said, had breached the law, in its December 17, 2007 N189 Order «On approval of list of port fees at Russian seaports" (paragraph 2) entrusting state-owned "Rosmorport" (Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport) to charge the pilotage fees and environmental levies, thus restricting other port service operators in the market.

Besides, the Ministry of Transport’s order violated interests of non-public companies, competing with its rivals, the Ministry’s and Rosmorrechflot’s enterprises (Rosmorport FSUE and Hydrographic FSU Enterprise), as well as restricting access to the markets for other companies, the FAS statement said.

Russia's Transport Ministry presented, at the FAS board meeting its November 30 2009 N219 order «On Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia from December 17, 2007 N189», registered in the Ministry of Justice of Russia on December 22, 2009.

The Commission board found the Transport Ministry’s submitted documents are sufficient to dismiss the case against RMT over violation of antimonopoly legislation as the Ministry voluntarily has removed in its order all competition restrictions, the FAS statement said.